Abstract

GIS for Healthy Homes
Track: Health and Human Services
Authors: Mark Smith, Jared Hill

This presentation will describe an integrated surveillance and enhanced assessment program to identify housing with hazards to health. Geocoded housing-related health data are analyzed in a GIS database to identify target areas for in-depth assessment. An innovative GIS-enabled methodology is utilized to generate a survey sample, organize field teams and route survey teams to assessment housholds. The whole process is managed through an online GIS server, including questionnaire development, exporting of the survey to ArcPad 8 equipped handheld computers, management of field teams, importation of survey assessment data, and analysis. Survey teams use GIS and GPS to locate sampled households, then conduct interior and exterior assessments of housing-related health hazards including asthma triggers, potential sources of lead contamination, as well fall and fire hazards. Assessment households receive a healthy homes report and referrals for remediation if warranted and data collected serve as baseline data to inform development of effective interventions.

Mark Smith
Guilford County Department of Public Health
1203 Maple Street
Greensboro, North Carolina 27410
United States
Phone: 336-641-6844
Fax: 336-641-8144
E-mail: msmith@co.guilford.nc.us

Jared Hill
Guilford County Department of Public Health
1203 Maple Street
Greensboro, North Carolina 27405
United States
Phone: 336-641-8190
Fax: 336-641-8144
E-mail: jhill@co.guilford.nc.us